UK’s ‘most haunted’ tree blamed for setting car on fire

UK’s ‘most haunted’ tree blamed for setting car on fire

EERIE: The cedar tree is said to be cursed after a witch was hanged from it

The mysterious blaze broke out beneath a 250-year-old cedar said to be cursed by a witch who was hanged from its branches.

Grandma Karren Lilley, 62, saw fire-fighters tackling the blaze and said: “It’s supposed to be one of the oldest trees and legend has it that it’s unlucky to talk when walking under the tree.

“My nan would never let me talk when walking under it.

“It’s to do with the house. The tree used to be part of the garden.

“A witch is supposed to have been hanged from it and a little girl is part of the haunted house.

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HAUNTED: The 250-year-old cedar is said to be cursed by a witch

“My colleagues all laugh at me when I tell them about the tree.”

Karren, who has lived near the tree in Caterham, Surrey, all her life, would never dream of having her photo taken with it as she fears the curse.

Locals admit they stay silent or even hold their breath when walking beneath the branches.

The burned out car’s location is too much of a coincidence for some locals, who believe it is further proof of the tree’s spookiness.

Andrea Knowles, who also lives in the area, said: “I heard that the tree is cursed. If you speak beneath it, you will have bad luck. I even hold my breath so the cursed one cannot see my soul as I pass.”

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Other tales say that the ghosts of a nun and a monk also haunt the tree. And some say the offices next to the tree are even more haunted.

Building contractors Buxton, who work out of the converted old rectory, claim their scared staff refuse to go down to the cellar alone.

They also say a poltergeist roams the building. Incidents reported include a stapler flying to the floor untouched and cupboard doors bursting open in the boardroom.

Buxton blogged about the happenings at their HQ last Halloween.

It said: “Grown men are known to have left the building in haste being the last one in the office and having such an overbearing feeling of foreboding that they have had to leave.”